Automatic switch.



H. H. PALMER.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 0013.28, 1913.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

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HERMAN H. PALMER, F CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOIR. 0F ONE-HALF TO SAMUEL S. PALMER, OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

Application filed October 28, 1913. Serial No. 797,751.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERMAN H. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Charleston, in the county of Charles-- arranged in the track, the plungers being arranged to be depressed under the influence of air pressure supplied by the air brake system.

The invention will be particularly explained in the specific description following.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the automatic trip carried by the train and the actuating means therefor; Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 1111 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a sectional front elevation of the train trip.

In constructing a switch-operating means in accordance with my invention, a train trip is provided at each side of the locomotive A, or car, which trips preferably are formed of rollers, and means is provided for depressing the trips to engage plungers 11 in the track B, for throwing a switch in either direction, in a manner hereinafter described.

Each trip roller 10 is mounted in a yoke 12 which is pivoted, as at 13, to a plunger rod 14 carrying a piston 1 1 operating in a cylinder 15. Provision is made for depressing the plungers by applying air pressure from the brake system, as hereinafter described, against the upper side of the piston. On a downward extension 16 of the cylinder are arranged stops 17 at the front and back of the yoke 12, to limit the forward or backward movement of the yoke 12 and the trip roller 10 carried thereby. The yoke may be rocked to face forwardly or rearwardly for reversing its direction should the engine be backing in approaching the curved upper ends 11 of the plungers 11.

In the head 19 of the cylinder 15 is a port 18 through which compressed air may enter above the piston 14 there being a helical compression spring 20 in the cylinder, the said sprlng pressing at its upper end against the underside of the piston and being seated at its lower end against the bottom 21 of the cylinder. A fitting 22 is secured to the piston head 19, and is provided with a threeway valve 23 having a suitable handle 24, there being a port 25 in the fitting 22. communicating with the port 18 leading to the cylinder. The valve 23 is adapted to be turned to exhaust the air from the cylinder through the exhaust port 26 in the fitting 22, or to establish communication between the port 25 and the port 27 which is in communication with an inlet port 28, connected by a pipe 29 with a cylinder 30 or other part of the brake system, to supply compressed air to the said pipe 29. Communicating also with the inlet 28 is an upwardly extending port 31 controlled by a threeway valve 32, having a suitable handle 33, the valve serving to permit compressed air to pass through the passage 31 to the cylinder 15 on the opposite side of the train, or to permit the air from said opposite cylinder to escape through an exhaust port 341. Connection is made between the port 31 and the opposite cylinder 15 by a pipe 35 (Fig. 2).

The plungers 11 disposed at each side of the track in line to be engaged by the trips 10, are adapted for vertical movement in a box 36 set in the track B, and in practice are arranged to operate a switch in any approved manner.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In operating means for railway switches, a depressible train trip pivotally mounted to dispose the same in a forward or rearward direction, and stops at the front and back of the said pivotally mounted trip to limit its forward and backward movement.

2. In operating means for railway switches, a depressible plunger, a cylinder in which said plunger is movable, a trip pivoted on the lower end of the plunger and movable vertically therewith, stops for said trip on the lower end of the cylinder in front of and behind the plunger, between which stops the plunger extends, the said trip being rockable on the plungerto reverse the position of the same at a forward or rearward inclination, and the said stops being spaced to permit rocking of the trip therebetween and permit the trip to rise between the stops, the stops furthermore be- 10 ing positioned to engage and limit the movement of the trip in either a forward or backward direction.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERMAN H. PALMER.

Witnesses J. A. JOHNSTON, EDWARD HARLESTON.

\copiel. otthis patentmay be obteimsdJfnrjive cents each, by addressing the ,Gqmmissioner at Patents,

;Washington, D. G. 

